Who Sent You?

In November 2023, organizers convened and advocated for a Black Student Success Committee. This would ensure that the forthcoming elected school board would be on the hook for improving Black student academic outcomes. In this episode, we hear from:Valerie Leonard, founder of Nonprofit Utopia, and the Black Student Success Committee memberDominique (Dom) McKoy, executive director of the To&Through Project at the University of ChicagoGrace Asiegbu, freelance journalist who recently published a Block Club Chicago investigation on the Black Student Success progress three years after its passage. After listening, you'll learn the needs this plan intends to address, how it came to pass, and the plan's goals. Additional Resources:Access the Black Student Success plan hereAccess Grace's article here or here

On episode 3, we're joined by Sarah Karp, senior education reporter at WBEZ. To get you up to speed ahead of the November 3rd elected school board race, we discussed all things Chicago Public Schools: Chronic absenteeism CPS Budget woesThe real work of a CPS Board memberCheck out some of Sarah's reporting belowFunding re-instated for CPS from federal government 10 years after CPS school closuresChronic absenteeismFind your CPS district and representativesFollow Sarah on X

On this week's episode of the Who Sent You? Podcast, we discuss what it takes to be a qualified Chicago Public School board member. This conversations includes Bridget Lee, founding executive director of the Academy for Local Leadership. In this interview, she include's the ALL Governance Compass, access here If you're looking for your board member and your district, find it here 

Even with the best intentions, people who want to run for office may not make it. Illinois has a petition scheme that allows anyone to object to your nominating petition papers. In this episode, we hear from Andrew Finko, attorney, who discusses the origins of the petition challenges. Then we pivot to Tameka Walton, nonprofit executive director, and candidate for the Chicago School Board 10A district. After two challenges, she was knocked off the ballot and will be a write-in candidate.